Back for its 15th year in 2025, Canberra’s Enlighten Festival returns once again to light up its city icons to Monday 10 March.
The festival’s diverse program of events will provide an opportunity to explore our iconic cultural institutions with stunning projections, exclusive public programs, art installations, and interactive and immersive experiences specially curated for the festival.
“The Enlighten Festival is now entrenched in Canberra’s events calendar. It brings the community together and invites visitors to come out to see our iconic national institutions in a creative new light. The festival continues to grow each year, providing a boost to the city’s tourism economy,” said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
“This year, in celebration of 15 years of the festival, we are taking Enlighten to the streets with Enlighten: Beyond, lighting up Canberra and encouraging the community to explore installations beyond the traditional setting of the festival in the National Triangle.”
“The Enlighten Festival is a great opportunity to come together while supporting local businesses who are a big part of the festival providing food, drink and entertainment,” said Mr Barr.
This year the festival showcases Canberra’s role in Reflecting Our Story, the telling, sharing, holding and writing of Australian stories, through a multi-sensory experience that celebrates Australia through dynamic art, sound and larger than life installations. Our national institutions will be bathed in a display of light, sound and movement, with projections created by contemporary artists.
The Festival Hub, at the heart of Enlighten, will provide live music and a range of food and beverage options. Local and interstate artists including Jett Blyton, Gia Ransome, Camino Gold, Anna Smirk, will join First Nations artists The Stiff Gins, Project Dust, and Monica Moore.
The always popular short film festival Lights! Canberra! Action! will take place on Friday 7 March in the Senate Rose Gardens, highlighting our talented local film makers’ interpretation of this year’s theme ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward’.
On Sunday 9 March, Symphony in the Park will feature Melbourne band The Bamboos with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra for a free evening of funk and soul supported by a 40-piece orchestra.
This year, Enlighten: Beyond will offer a range of experiences beyond the National Triangle with experiences and illuminations extending across the city. Immersive experiences will feature in Glebe Park, the National Film and Sound Archive, Mt Stromlo Observatory and the Australian Botanic Gardens.
The Canberra Balloon Spectacular will take place after Enlighten from Saturday 15 March to Sunday 23 March 2025.
The 2025 Enlighten Festival continues to Monday 10 March. For more information and full program, visit: www.enlightencanberra.com for details.
Image: Enlighten Illuminations – photo by 5 Foot Photography, Davey Barber for VisitCanberra